Package for use in sending fragile articles.



I. A. MILLIRON. PACKAGE FOR USE IN SENDING FRAGILE ARTICLES. APPLIGATIONFILED MAY 26, 1913.

1,107,339, Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

Fig, 1

5 WW wtoz mtozmugo IRA A. MILLIRON. OF NEW YORK. N. Y.,

ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

HAMMOCK EGG CARRIER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PACKAGE FOR USE IN SENDING FBAGILE ARTICLES.

m erase.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented na is, rare.

Application filed May 26, 1913. Serial No. 769,858.

To all 012 mm it may concern.

Be it known that l, IRA A. MiLLnioN, of-

New York city, in the county of New York and State oi New York. haveinvented a certain new and useful Package for Use in SendingFragileArticles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my in\-'ention is to provide a package for use in sendingsmall lots of eggs through the mails, or by similar carricls, wherespecial care cannot be insured in handling the package and the lattermust be of minimum weight in order to avoid ex- ('essivc transportationcharges.

The invention includes the parts, and combination of parts, to behereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan View of one form of \\"rapping element with theintermediate part broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough a section of the complete package; Fig. 3 is a sectional view online 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form ofWrapping element; and Fig. 5 is a section of the complete package withthe wrapper inflated.

The invention includes generally an outer container and an inflatableand-detlatable Wrapper for holding the articles to be shipped firmly andyet yieldingly within the container, and for cushioning the shocks towhich the latter may be subjected.

In the form of the invention, disclosed in Fig. 2, the container 1, isshown as an ord inary cardboard mailing tube, but this element may be ofother forms ofconstructions.

It is necessary that the container shall provide a chamber for receivingthe wrapper and its contents, and that it shall be sulficiently lightso. as not to materially increase the weight of the package and that itshall be sufiiciently rigid, or stiff, to limit the expansion of t ewrapper, and to not readily collapse under the strains or blows which itmight ordinarily receive in the handling thereof by the usualtransportation agencies. The common cardboard mailing tube subserves thepurpose of such container in a highly efiicient and satisfactory degree,

The wrapper 2 is made of some suitable flexible, air-tight material, asrubber and in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is initially flat and ofoblong form and is provided with a plurality of transversely extendinginflatable compartments 3 connected by web portions 4, which areseparated from one another a distance greater than the length of an egg.

Any suitable means may be employed for inflating the wrapper. As shownherein a valve 5, substantially like that commonly associated with abicycle tire is connected toone of the end compartments 3 and smallducts, or passageways, 6 are provided through the portions 4 for placingthe compartments 3 in ii'iterconnnunioation. lln making up the package,the wrapper in defiatcd form is folded about the eggs which are placedin the spaces 4 and the eggs so wrapped are then inserted in thecontainer 1. Thereafter air is forced through the valve 5 into thecompartments Swhich expand and completely fill the spaces between theeggs and the walls of the container, thus firmly and yieldably retainimgthe eggs against movement and efiicicntly cushioning the same from suchshocks as may be received by the container in the handling thereof. Theends of the container are preferably closed after the wrapper has beeninflated and the package is then ready for shipment. After the packagereaches its destination, access is readily had to the contents bydeflatingthe wrapper. Thereafter the wrapper may be confined in a. smallcompass and returned to the shipper at slight cost.

The package is particularly designed for facilitating the sin )ment byparcel post of small lots of eggs from farmers, or poultry dealers, totheir customers, but as will be appreciated, it may be used withadvantage for other purposes.

Instead of making the wrapper of the shape illustrated in Fig. 1, it maybe made of tubular form, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

What I claim is 1. A. package for the shipment of eggs comprislng acontainer and a wrapper inclosed thereby and including a plurality ofspaced apart inflatable compartments.

2. A ackage for the shipment of eggs comprismga substantially rigidcontainer and a wrapper removably held therein and comprisin a pluralityof spaced apart transverse y extending inflatable compartments.

3. A package for the shipment of eggs comprising a tubular container anda wrapper removable therefrom and insertible therein through one end ofthe same said Wrapper comprising a plurality of spaced apart doublewalled portions designed to be distended and other single walledportions arranged at one side of and extending parallel with the doublewalled portion.

4. In a package for the shipment of eggs, a substantially rigidcontainer and a wrapper removably retained therein, said Wrapperinitially being substantially flat and comprising a plurality of spacedapart inflatable compartments and end and interposed substantially solidportions and means for inflating said compartments whereby the outerWalls thereof will be pressed against the inner wall of the containerand the inner walls of said compartment will cooperate with the eggs--for preventing the movement thereof axially of the container.

5. A package for the shipment of eggs comprising a container and aWrapper held therein and removable therefrom, said wrapper comprising apluralityof spaced apart inflatable compartments, and substantiallysolid portions interposed between the compartments, and means forinflating the compartments, substantially as and for the purposedescribed. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses, at New York city, in the eonnty of New York,and State of New York, this 21st day of May, 1913.

IRA A. MILLIRON. Witnesses:

S. DAVIS, F. B. PIoKAm).

